Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) April 3: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will roll out the third edition of the Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp 2026 from April 6, expanding its national footprint with a structured programme aimed at strengthening innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities among students across the country.
The five-day bootcamp, organised through AICTE’s Innovation Cell, will be conducted in three phases across 30 locations, targeting participation from nearly 6,500 students drawn primarily from higher education institutions. The initiative is designed to equip participants with practical skills in design thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship in response to evolving industry and startup ecosystem demands.
According to official details, Phase I of the programme will be held from April 6 to 10 at 13 locations, followed by Phase II from April 20 to 24 at another 13 centres, and Phase III from May 11 to 15 across four locations. The multi-phase structure is intended to ensure regional diversity and wider access, particularly for institutions beyond metropolitan centres.
The programme includes participation from teams associated with the Smart India Hackathon, institutions under the Institution’s Innovation Council framework, and students working on prototypes or early-stage ideas requiring refinement, design intervention, and guidance for investment-ready pitching. Faculty mentors will accompany participating teams, providing continuous academic and technical support throughout the programme.
In a significant expansion of outreach, the bootcamp will be conducted in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, the North Eastern states, Leh in Ladakh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology has been designated as the host institution for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands phase, marking the first time the programme is being held in these geographically remote and strategically important locations.
The initiative builds on its earlier editions launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Education, with a continued focus on fostering innovation-driven learning. The theme of the programme underscores the role of design as a catalyst for development, encouraging participants to approach problem-solving through interdisciplinary and practical frameworks.
The bootcamp structure includes hands-on activities, exposure to real-world challenges, and collaborative learning modules aimed at preparing students for the complexities of innovation-led enterprises. Expert sessions will be conducted by startup founders, incubation leaders, and domain specialists, who will also evaluate participants during the final pitching session.
On the concluding day of each bootcamp, participating teams will present refined ideas before a jury panel. The top five teams at each location will receive appreciation certificates and non-monetary recognition, based on the strength of their concepts and presentation.
The programme is being supported by the Wadhwani Foundation as the knowledge partner, which will provide expert trainers, while the SBI Foundation is participating as the organisation partner.
The central inauguration of the IDE Bootcamp 2026 will be conducted virtually from the AICTE headquarters, with participation from senior officials of the council, marking the formal commencement of the nationwide initiative.
